Circuit-closer for



w. K. BUCKLE S. CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNALING DEVICES.

Patohtml 011. H, I919.

APPLICATION FILED JUNilG. I513.

a a/VIM M'l/(am/ffiuck/a? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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4 all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, WILLIAM K. BUCKLES,

- aritizen of the United Statos,.residing};m at to Rifle, in the countyof Garfield and of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in QircuitClosers for Electric signalin Devices, of whichthe following is aspeci cation, reference being had to .flie'accompanyin drawings.

This invention re ates to certain improve menis in circuit closers forelectric signaling devices and especially adapted for use in connectionwith signaling devices for antomobiles, and has for its primary objectto provide means whereby the operator of the machine can convenientlycontrol an electrically operable horn or analogous signaling device bythe operation of a suitable switch elementlocated ata convenient pointupon. the steering wheel for access by the hand of the operator withoutremoval from the wheel.

It is also another object of my invention to provide a device for theabove urpose which may be readil attached to. t e ordiany as a d can bemanufactured at comparatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view,

, the invention consists in the improved construction, combination andrelative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter morefully claimed and illustrated iii the accompany ing drawing in whichsimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts through outthe several views, and wherein:-

Fi re 1 i a top lan view of the steering heefif an antomo ile showingone embodiment of my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the central portionof the device as illustrated in Fi 1;

Fi 3 is an en arged fragmentary sectiona view taken through the rimportion of the device as illustrated in Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line44of Fl .,3; and

Fig. Sis a, etail elevation illustrating a. sli htly modified form ofthe device.

eferring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the upper end of thehollow stationary post or standard such as is provided upon varioustypes of automobiles and with- Specification 611mm Patent. Applicationfiled June 26, 1918. lcrlal'lo. 41,968.

in which the steering 1nd or shaft 6 is ro-- -tatably fitted.

.ing 13 0 described, subsequently rim. Thiswire 29 preferred manner tothe inner Upon the upper end of the shaft 6, the steering wheel 7 iskeyed, splined or otherwise suitably secured, said wheel the ordinaryconstruction and arms 8 extending radially from a cent the rim 9.

hub and suitably 'fixod at their outer ends to The upper portion of thewheel rim 9 at as indicated at 10,

spaced points ls recessed,

of each recess 10,

and in the opposite ends spring contact plates 11 are securely fixed toI;

0 base wall of said recess. The recess is closed by a cover plate 12,the edges of which arecountersunk in the surface of the wheel rim andthis plate is provided with an openreceive the which the free endsplates 11 are engaged, said urging the button 14 outward y and engagingthe shoulder 15 formed thereon with the cover plate 12. These ends ofthe contact plates are opposed to a metal block 16 secured within therecem by the screw 17, whereby the wheel rim is fixed to one of the arms8 of the wheel and the said metal block grounded to the metal arms 8.

Upon the steering wheel a resilient metal plate 27 1s fixed at one ofits ends, the free end'of said plate havi n on the upper end di he iscontact plate 27 is nected by means of a wire of the contact plates 11wheel rim, and a wire 29 of contact plates with the remainin contactplates 11 at the opposite side of t e wheel maybe conveniently seof thespring contact steering s aft 6. electrically con- 28 with one pairconnects this pair cured in any sideof the wheel rim.

Preferably, the upper end of the steering shaft is provided with a.contact late insulated from said shaft, with wh'ic 1 the re silientcontact plate 27 is engaged, 'and a wire 20 extends from the contact onthe shaft niagnet for a horn or other signs device, indicated at H. Awire 25 leads from the other magnet terminal to one side of a battery24, the circuit being grounded through the wire 23'connected to theother side of the battery and the frame of the machine.

In the operation of the signaling device as above described, when t sdesired to oppush button 14 with hearing align ment' mounted in the f 6to one terminal of the operating Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

being of .embodyin lates normally a vioez ond battery 24 to the ,u withn signal, the motorist depresses any one of-the buttons 11', thusengaging the free l -rends'ofthe plates 11 with the opposed metal block16. "A'circuit will thus be closed said block, the wire 28, springcontlet 2 the wire 20, the op'eratin magnet of the signaling device,wire 25 an battery 24to-the ground. Thus, theho'rn will be actuated togive. the desired signal. when the steering shaft 6 is not of hollowconstruction so that the wire may be extended therethroug'mthe circuitconnections are as Fig. 5, wherein a metal ban 18 is one d upon the hubof lithe steering wheel an suitably insulated therefrom, as shown at 19.One end of a win 26 is connected to this band and the other endth'ereofisconnected to the contoot platesll in the wheel rim The wire 21 20 fromone terminaLLof the magnet ofthe' 'ghornILisconnectedtoa ate22moun uhandinsulated-from esteering 0s 5 t efreeend of this late luwin resiient bearin contact wi the metal and 18. it will 1; us be seenthat withthis arrangement, when the button 14 is dep l a. circuit is closedtbmughthe plates 11, wire 26, hand 18, plate 22,.w1re 21, the magnet ofthe signali deground. E ther of the circuit as above referred to be aoctave and reliable in practical operation. a Fmm' theformingqdescription, taken in accompanying drawing, 7 the on' manner ofoperatlon and several advm oi the device, will be y'understood. It willbe an I have devised a very simple and lervieeeble signaling devicefor-motor vehieles, which can be readily applied to the ordinaryautomobile steering wheel without requiring an radical alterations inthqjoonstructlon t ereof. The several arts of the device are also ofstrong and arable construction and not liable to et out of order. I haveherein shown two 0 the switch buttons mounted upon the rim of the'wheel, but it will be understood that, if desired, a greater number of'suchbuttons can be employed. so It is, therefore, to be understood thatwhile I have herein shown and described the preferred construction andarrangement of the several parts, the device is negertheles susceptibleof considerable modification therein and I, therefore, reserve theprivilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairlyembodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:-- In combinhtion, a rotatable member, an operating membersecured thereto by means of screws for rotating the same, acontactcarried by the rotating member, a brush engaging the contact carried bysaid rotate le 65 member, and a circuit closer carried by he operatingmember and includi Ytwohormolly separated members, one 0 said membersbein in electrical connection with-the brush and the second ofsaidmembers bei secured in sition by one of said screws ails in oonnectlonthrough said screw with a hereunto my source of electrical on Intestimony whereof signature in the presence of two witnesses. 76 4WILLIAM K.BUCKLES. l,

Witnesses:

J no. R. Wnm, PAUL I. Gordon.

